Post by Administrator on May 13, 2022 15:53:08 GMT
VIA All at Sea
RMS Olympic
On this day, 12 May 1918, RMS Olympic, while serving as HMT Olympic, she rammed and sank the German submarine U-103. Olympic was on her twenty-second voyage as a troopship.
Olympic's gunners opened fire immediately, and the ship turned to ram the submarine, which immediately crash dived to 30m (98 ft) and turned to a parallel course.
Almost immediately afterwards Olympic struck the submarine just aft of her conning tower with her port propeller slicing through U-103's pressure hull. The crew of U-103 blew her ballast tanks, scuttled and abandoned the submarine. Olympic did not stop to pick up survivors, but continued on to Cherbourg.
Meanwhile, USS Davis had sighted a distress flare and picked up 31 survivors from U-103. Olympic returned to Southampton with at least two hull plates dented and her prow twisted to one side, but not breached. It was subsequently discovered that U-103 had been preparing to torpedo Olympic when she was sighted, but the crew were not able to flood the two stern torpedo tubes. For his service, Captain Hayes was awarded the DSO.
Olympic is the only merchant ship to sink an enemy warship during a war.
Oil on canvas by Barry Spice
RMS Olympic
On this day, 12 May 1918, RMS Olympic, while serving as HMT Olympic, she rammed and sank the German submarine U-103. Olympic was on her twenty-second voyage as a troopship.
Olympic's gunners opened fire immediately, and the ship turned to ram the submarine, which immediately crash dived to 30m (98 ft) and turned to a parallel course.
Almost immediately afterwards Olympic struck the submarine just aft of her conning tower with her port propeller slicing through U-103's pressure hull. The crew of U-103 blew her ballast tanks, scuttled and abandoned the submarine. Olympic did not stop to pick up survivors, but continued on to Cherbourg.
Meanwhile, USS Davis had sighted a distress flare and picked up 31 survivors from U-103. Olympic returned to Southampton with at least two hull plates dented and her prow twisted to one side, but not breached. It was subsequently discovered that U-103 had been preparing to torpedo Olympic when she was sighted, but the crew were not able to flood the two stern torpedo tubes. For his service, Captain Hayes was awarded the DSO.
Olympic is the only merchant ship to sink an enemy warship during a war.
Oil on canvas by Barry Spice
